Youngsters rising up the ranks for No. 1 Florida State after slow start to season

Florida State's Jameis Winston (5), Jesus Wilson (3) and Dalvin Cook (4) celebrate Cook's touchdown against North Carolina State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Florida State won 56-41.(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
(The Associated Press)

Florida State's Dalvin Cook (4) runs for a touchdown against North Carolina State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Florida State won 56-41.(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
(The Associated Press)

Florida State's Jesus Wilson (3) misses a pass as North Carolina State's Josh Jones, rear, and Tim Buckley defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
(The Associated Press)

Featherston (6-foot-7, 294 pounds) and Pugh (6-4, 236 pounds) filled in and changed the game. Featherston forced a fumble late in the third quarter and Pugh recovered. Rashad Greene caught a 4-yard touchdown on the ensuing series to give FSU its first lead of the day. It never trailed afterward.

"Happy with the two young ends ... (they) were a key spark in the second half," Fisher said. "Gives us a lot of length, athleticism, speed. They're ready to play. After all that, they were the guys that made that key (play) that got us over the hump."

Offensively, freshman running back Dalvin Cook ran for a 19-yard touchdown after being upgraded to second string due to injury to Mario Pender and sophomore Jesus "Bobo" Wilson had a career day with 109 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Freshman receiver Travis Rudolph, rated the No. 1 wideout in the nation by multiple recruiting sites, caught a 40-yard pass for his first reception.

Wilson seems to have grown into the complement to Greene that the offense has desperately searched for. He's known for his speed and athleticism, but there was a question of how much of the load he could carry on his 5-9, 177-pound frame. Quarterback Jameis Winston raved about Wilson during the offseason, but this was his biggest performance under the lights.

"Really has a lot of ability and is a really smart young man," Fisher said. "That's what our offense is based on. You want to take somebody away and you're 1 on 1 over here, we're going to go over here. That's when you can really be aggressive in how you call plays."

The Seminoles host Wake Forest on Saturday, and the time is now for several youngsters on the FSU roster.

Featherston was listed on the two-deep depth chart for the first time Monday as the backup to Edwards, Jr. Wilson was named the starting slot receiver for the first time before the game.

Fisher has talked about getting Rudolph and fellow freshman Ermon Lane more involved. Freshman Derrick Nndai is the primary backup at nose guard and sophomore DeMarcus Walker is the starter at the hybrid linebacker spot. Pugh is also expected to get more snaps.

Fisher said Edwards (concussion), Mitchell and Pender (concussion) are expected to return this week.